Vasculitis Flashcards
What are the layers of arteries?
endothelium (tunica intima)
smooth muscle (tunica media)
fibrous connective tissue (tunica adventitia)
What are the types of vascular disease?
arterial diseases
venous diseases
lymphatic diseases
vascular tumors
congenital anomalies
What are the categories of arterial diseases?
arteriosclerosis
aneurysm
vasculitis
functional arterial disease
fibromuscular dysplasia
What is vasculitis?
inflammation of and damage to blood vessels
vessel damage leads to ischemia (usually predominates)** **or aneurysm which compromises end-organ function
heterogenous - many etiologies, many manifestations
What are causes of secondary vasculitis?
infection
drugs
malignancy
connective tissue disease (lupus or progressive systemic sclerosis)
What are do the primary vasculitides have in common?
autoimmune etiology
inflammation of the vessel wall often leads to necrosis or aneurysmal formation
vessel wall inflammation -> occlusion or aneurysm -> end organ dysfunction
constitutional symptoms (fever, weight loss, malaise, anorexia, fever)
What are the subclassifications of vasculitis?
large vessel
medium-sized vessel
small vessel
What are the large vessel vasculitis?
Giant Cell Arteritis
Takayasu’s Arteritis
What are the medium-sized vessel vasculitides?
Polyarteritis Nodosa
Kawasaki disease
Thromboangiitis Obliterans
What are the small vessel vasculitides?
Immune Complex Mediated
ANCA-associated
What is the classic presentation of giant cell arteritis (aka temporal arteritis)?
patients > 50 yrs, men more than women
extracranial arteries, temporal is common
classic presentation: fever, anemia, high ESR, headaches
other common manifestations:
- jaw claudication
- polymyalgia rheumatica (pain and stiffness in the hips and shoulders)
- involvement of the ophthalmic artery can lead to blindness
How is the diagnosis of giant cell arteritis confirmed?
temporal artery biopsy
granulomatous inflammation - can see giant cells in vessel walls, which gives the arteritis its name
What is the treatment for giant cell arteritis?
high-dose steroids such as prednisone
What is the classic presentation of Takayasu’s Arteritis?
women < 50
asian descent
constitutional symptoms first (fever and weight loss) before clinical manifestation of clinical symptoms
involves ascending aorta and immediate branches
“pulseless disease” (decrease in peripheral pulse)
end-organ blood supply can also be affected (neurologic symptoms, claudication, or pulmonary hypertension)
What are the histological findings of Takayasu’s Arteritis?
histology is the same as temporal arteritis
giant cells are present
inflammation across all 3 layers of artery